Sept. 11, 2001, marked the beginning of the war against terrorism.
But it also brought to a tragic end a multitude of lives.
Here, we honor those who died in the attack on the Pentagon.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace speaks at the Sept. 11 Memorial observance, honoring the 184 people who perished when American Airline 77 crashed into the Pentagon six years ago, Sept. 11, 2007. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly A. Burgess
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Troops in Afghanistan Commemorate 9/11

At 5:16 p.m., the only sounds that could be heard here were the distant drone of helicopter rotors and the flap of flags in the wind.
In the United States, it was 8:46 a.m., Sept. 11, six years to the minute after a plane hijacked by terrorists struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York.

For one minute, servicemembers attending a memorial ceremony here were silent. For one minute, these servicemembers honored those who perished that fateful day. For one minute, these servicemembers honored those who fought back on a plane. For one minute, these servicemembers were reminded why they are here. Story

Pentagon Worker Remembers 9/11 in Her Own Way

Despite the six years that have passed since the attacks on the United States, Irwin gets emotional quickly when talking about the day that 184 people died here. One-hundred twenty-four servicemembers and civilians who where in the Pentagon died with 59 passengers on the hijacked American Airlines Flight 77. Story

Tourists Visit Pentagon Crash Site

On a day as clear and sunny as the fateful one six years before, tourists and local citizens came to the Pentagon Sept. 8 to pay homage and honor those who lost their lives when a terrorist-controlled airliner crashed into the building Sept. 11, 2001. Story

Families of 9/11 Victims Tour Memorial Site

On Sept. 11, 2001, Amelia Fields arrived at the Pentagon for her second day of work as an Army budget analyst. It was also her 46th birthday.
That morning, when hijackers barreled American Airlines Flight 77 into the building’s western wall, Fields and 124 other military and civilian personnel in the building died along with 59 passengers.

Near the crash site here Sept. 7, Fields’ widower, William Fields, a retired Marine master sergeant, and family members of other victims toured the Pentagon Memorial construction site. Story

Gates, Pace Vow to Pursue 9/11 Perpetrators

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told grieving family members at the Pentagon’s west wall today that the military would continue to pursue and defeat America’s enemies, especially terrorist organizations such as al Qaeda, which instigated the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Story | Speech

9/11 Survivor Returns to Tell Story of Hope

Minutes after terrorists slammed a hijacked commercial airliner into the Pentagon six years ago today, Army Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell thought he was going to die. Story

Chaplain Returns to Minister to Pentagon

Six years ago, Army Chaplain (Col.) William Broome stared in disbelief as he ran toward a burning Pentagon from his Crystal City office to minister to those injured and the families of those who died. Story

Keeping the Heart of the Pentagon Beating

Sept. 11, 2001, started beautifully. But by 10 a.m., the clear blue skies were marred by black smoke rising above horrific scenes of death and destruction. Story

Defense Historians Document 9/11 Attack

Nearly six years after a terrorist-controlled plane slammed into the Pentagon, killing 184 people aboard the plane and in the building, Defense Department historians have published a book on the incident and its aftermath.
Story

9/11 Memorial Commemorates Sacrifice

When it is completed in about a year from now, the Pentagon Memorial will commemorate the sacrifice of not only the 184 victims who died here, but also those who perished at the other Sept. 11, 2001, attack sites in New York City and Pennsylvania, Deputy Secretary Gordon R. England said here Sept. 7, 2007. Story

VIDEO

9/11 Attack Signals Start of War on Terror

8:45 a.m. - Hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston, Mass., crashes into the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.

9:03 a.m. - United Airlines Flight 175, hijacked from Boston, crashes into the south tower of the World Trade Center. Timeline

White House Notes U.S. Actions Since Attacks

On the sixth anniversary of al Qaeda’s attacks on U.S. soil, White House officials released a “fact sheet” that takes stock of actions the United States and other nations have taken to confront the terrorist threat. Story